Tropical White Morning-Glory: The Night-Blooming Beauty for Your Garden
If you’ve ever dreamed of a garden that comes alive after sunset, the tropical white morning-glory (Ipomoea alba) might just be your perfect match. This enchanting vine puts on quite the evening show, unfurling massive white blooms that release an intoxicating fragrance into the night air. While it may seem backwards to have a morning-glory that blooms at night, this plant marches to the beat of its own drum – and what a beautiful rhythm it is!
What Exactly Is Tropical White Morning-Glory?
Tropical white morning-glory is an annual climbing vine that belongs to the morning-glory family, though it’s also known by the synonyms Calonyction aculeatum and Ipomoea bona-nox. Don’t let the annual label fool you – this vigorous grower can reach impressive heights in a single season, making it perfect for quickly covering fences, trellises, or arbors.
As a forb herb (a vascular plant without significant woody tissue), this vine produces heart-shaped leaves and show-stopping trumpet-shaped flowers that can reach 4-6 inches across. The real magic happens at dusk when these pristine white blooms unfurl, releasing their sweet fragrance to attract night-flying pollinators.
Where Does It Call Home?
This night-blooming beauty has quite the travel resume! It’s native to the lower 48 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, though it’s also found growing in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the Americas. Currently, you can find it growing in the District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Louisiana, Texas, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
Interestingly, while it’s native to many U.S. regions, it’s considered non-native in Hawaii, where it has naturalized and reproduces on its own in the wild.
Why You Might Want to Grow It
There are several compelling reasons to consider adding tropical white morning-glory to your garden:
- Evening Drama: Perfect for moon gardens or spaces where you enjoy spending time in the evening
- Pollinator Magnet: Attracts beneficial night-flying moths and other nocturnal pollinators
- Fast Coverage: Quickly covers unsightly areas or provides privacy screening
- Fragrant Blooms: Adds delightful evening fragrance to your outdoor space
- Low Maintenance: Once established, it’s relatively easy to care for
Things to Consider
Before falling head-over-heels for this night bloomer, keep these points in mind:
- It’s not native everywhere it grows, so consider native alternatives if supporting local ecosystems is a priority
- As a vigorous grower, it may need regular pruning to keep it in bounds
- The flowers close during the day, so it won’t provide daytime color
- In areas outside USDA zones 9-11, you’ll need to treat it as an annual
Perfect Garden Situations
Tropical white morning-glory shines in several garden scenarios:
- Moon Gardens: Alongside other white or light-colored evening bloomers
- Cottage Gardens: For that romantic, slightly wild look
- Tropical Landscapes: As part of a lush, exotic plant palette
- Evening Entertainment Areas: Near patios, decks, or seating areas used in the evening
- Privacy Screens: Quick coverage for fences or unsightly areas
Growing Conditions That Make It Happy
This adaptable vine isn’t too fussy about its growing conditions, which makes it great for both novice and experienced gardeners:
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade (at least 6 hours of sunlight for best blooming)
- Soil: Well-draining soil of almost any type
- Water: Regular watering, especially during hot, dry periods
- Climate: Thrives in warm temperatures; hardy in USDA zones 9-11
The plant shows remarkable adaptability to different moisture levels, with wetland status ranging from facultative to facultative wetland across different regions, meaning it can handle both wet and dry conditions.
Planting and Care Tips
Getting your tropical white morning-glory off to a good start is straightforward:
- Starting: Grow from seed, either started indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost or direct sown after soil warms
- Support: Provide a sturdy trellis, fence, or arbor for climbing
- Spacing: Allow 12-18 inches between plants
- Fertilizing: Light feeding with balanced fertilizer promotes blooming
- Pruning: Deadhead spent flowers and trim back excessive growth as needed
- Winter Care: In zones 8 and below, treat as an annual or bring potted plants indoors
Native Alternatives to Consider
If you’re in a region where tropical white morning-glory isn’t native and you prefer to stick with indigenous plants, consider these alternatives:
- Native moonflowers or evening primroses for night-blooming interest
- Local native vines for climbing coverage
- Regional native plants that attract night-flying pollinators
The Bottom Line
Tropical white morning-glory is a stunning choice for gardeners who want to add evening magic to their outdoor spaces. While it may not be native everywhere it’s grown, its relatively benign nature and spectacular nighttime display make it a reasonable choice for many gardens. Just remember to provide adequate support for its climbing habit and enjoy the nightly flower show – it’s truly something special to witness those large white blooms unfurling as the sun sets!
